An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing a tele-rehabilitation program with wearable technology to conventional face-to-face physiotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Access to face-to-face physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis (OA) is often limited by logistical barriers. This study compared a tele-rehabilitation program integrating video-conferencing and wearable motion sensors with conventional physiotherapy. Thirty-five participants with radiographic knee OA (Kellgren – Lawrence grades II – III) were randomized to a tele-rehabilitation group used a wearable sensor (n = 16) or conventional group (n = 19) attended face-to-face sessions. Both groups underwent a 12-week exercise program. Both groups improved significantly over time in Numeric Pain Rating Scale score (end-intervention: B = -1.05, p = .003, 3-month follow-up: B = -1.15, p = .001, and 6-month follow-up: B = -0.97, p = .015), Patient-Specific Functional Scale score (end-intervention: B = 1.37, p p p p = .001) and most of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (symptoms) (B = -1.03 to −0.50, p p > .192). Tele-rehabilitation supported by wearable technology achieved outcomes comparable to conventional physiotherapy and may represent a viable alternative for delivering knee OA rehabilitation.

膝关节骨关节炎（knee osteoarthritis, OA）患者接受面对面物理治疗的机会，常受后勤保障类障碍制约。本研究对比了整合视频会议与可穿戴运动传感器的远程康复方案，与传统物理治疗的临床效果。35名经影像学确诊的膝关节骨关节炎患者（Kellgren-Lawrence分级II~III级）被随机分为两组：佩戴可穿戴传感器的远程康复组（n=16），以及接受面对面治疗的传统物理治疗组（n=19）。两组均完成为期12周的运动康复计划。两组随时间推移，在数字疼痛评分量表（Numeric Pain Rating Scale）得分上均出现显著改善（干预结束时：B=-1.05，p=0.003；3个月随访时：B=-1.15，p=0.001；6个月随访时：B=-0.97，p=0.015）；在患者特异性功能量表（Patient-Specific Functional Scale）得分上亦呈现显著改善（干预结束时：B=1.37，p<0.001）；膝关节损伤与骨关节炎结局评分（Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score）的多数症状维度得分亦出现改善，但统计学差异未达显著水平（B值范围-1.03至-0.50，p>0.192）。由可穿戴技术支持的远程康复方案，其康复效果与传统物理治疗相当，或可成为膝关节骨关节炎康复服务的可行替代方案。